System for attaching an article holding assembly to a mounting member in a vehicle

ABSTRACT

An article holding assembly for a vehicle that is attachable to a mounting member may include a housing and a first latching member including a locking member. The article holding assembly may also include a second latching member that is moveable with respect to the housing between first and second positions and a handle pivotably attached to the housing and including a striking member and a slotted member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/424,390,filed Jun. 15, 2006 which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The invention generally relates to a system for attaching an articleholding assembly to a mounting member in a vehicle.

2. Discussion

Article holding assemblies, such as console assemblies, may includefastening mechanisms that are configured for attachment to one or moremounting members. U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,260, for example, disclosesholders for attaching a console module to a pair of rails.

SUMMARY

An article holding assembly is provided for attachment to a mountingmember of a vehicle. The assembly includes a housing and a firstlatching member that includes a locking member. The assembly alsoincludes a second latching member that is moveable with respect to thehousing between first and second positions. The second latching memberis engageable with the mounting member when the second latching memberis in the first position. The second latching member is disengageablefrom the mounting member when the second latching member is moved towardthe second position. The assembly further includes a handle pivotablyattached to the housing. The handle includes a striking member and aslotted member. The slotted member is engaged with the second latchingmember and configured to assist in moving the second latching memberbetween the first and second positions. The handle is moveable between alocked position, in which the second latching member is in the secondposition and the striking member is engaged with the first latchingmember and locked by the locking member, and an unlocked position, inwhich the second latching member is in the first position and thestriking member is disengaged from the first latching member. A distancebetween an end of the handle and a portion of the second latching memberthat is engageable with the mounting member, when the second latchingmember is in the second position, is less than the distance between theend of the handle and the portion of the second latching member when thesecond latching member is in the first position.

While example embodiments in accordance with the invention areillustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be construed tolimit the claims. It is anticipated that various modifications andalternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A shows a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B shows a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2C shows a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A shows a cross section of a portion of FIG. 2C.

FIG. 3B shows a cross section of a portion of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3C shows a cross section of a portion of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3D shows a perspective view of a portion of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, andFIG. 2C.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5A shows a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5B shows a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5C shows a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an article holding assembly, such as a console bin assembly10, for a vehicle 11 that is attachable to a mounting member, such as amounting track 12, which is mounted in the vehicle 11. The console binassembly 10 includes a housing, such as bin 14, a latching member, suchas latch 16, a handle 18, and a spring 20 associated with the handle 18.

The handle 18 is pivotably attached to a pivot member, such as pin 22,having an axis 24 at pivot 26. The pin 22 spans a recessed area 28 ofthe bin 14 configured to accommodate the handle 18. The pin 22 is moldedas part of the bin 14. The pin 22, however, may be separatelymanufactured and attached to the bin 14. The handle 18 is snapped ontothe pin 22 and rotates about the axis 24 with respect to the bin 14. Thehandle 18 may, however, be attached to the pin 22 in any desired manner.

The handle 18 includes a striking member 30, or striker, and a retainingmember, such as brake pad 32. The striker 30 is configured to engage thelatch 16 when the handle is in certain positions as will be explainedbelow in detail. The striker 30 and the latch 16 are orientedvertically. The striker 30 and the latch 16, however, may be orientedhorizontally or may be oriented in any desired fashion. The brake pad 32is configured to engage the mounting track 12 when the handle is incertain positions as will be explained below in detail.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show a cross section of the console bin assembly 10when the handle 18 is in several positions. The handle 18 is moveablewith respect to the bin 14 between a first position 34, a secondposition 36, and a third position 38.

FIG. 2A shows the handle 18 in the first position 34. Referring to FIGS.1 and 2A, the brake pad 32 is engaged with the mounting track 12 tothereby attach the bin 14 to the mounting track 12. The brake pad 32 ismade of a non-skid material, such as a polyurethane, which resistsmovement of the console bin assembly 10 with respect to the mountingtrack 12 in a direction parallel to the axis 24. The brake pad 32 may beattached to the handle 18 in any desired fashion. For example, the brakepad may be co-molded with the handle 18. When the handle 18 is in thefirst position 34, the striker 30 is engaged by the latch 16 and lockedby a locking member 40, or lock, within the latch 16 as will beexplained in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D.

Operation of the lock 40 and striker 30 as the handle 18 moves from thefirst position 34 to the second position 36 and from the second position36 to the third position 38 will be explained below in detail withreference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D.

FIG. 2B shows the handle 18 in the second position 36. When the handle18 is in the second position 36, the striker 30 is engaged with thelatch 16 and unlocked from the lock 40 as will be explained in greaterdetail with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D.

FIG. 3C shows the handle 18 in the third position 38. When the handle 18is in the third position 38, the brake pad 32 is disengaged from themounting track 12. With the brake pad 32 disengaged from the mountingtrack 12, the bin 14 can be repositioned along the mounting track 12.When the handle 18 is in the third position 38, the striker 30 isdisengaged from the latch 16. The striker 30, however, may be configuredto be engaged with the latch 16 but not locked by the lock 40.

The handle 18 travels in a first direction 48, or counter clockwise fromthe perspective shown in FIG. 2A, from the first position 34 to thesecond position 36. The handle 18 travels in a second direction 50, orclockwise from the perspective shown in FIG. 2B, generally opposite thefirst direction 48 from the second position 36 to the third position 38.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, and 2C, the handle 18 also includes aportion, such as pad 52, configured to receive a force applied by a userto move the handle 18 from the first position 34 toward the secondposition 36. The pad 52 is located near an end of the handle 18 oppositethe pivot 26. To unlock the striker 30 from the latch 16 when the handleis in the first position 34, the user pushes on the pad 52 of the handle18 until the handle 18 reaches the second position 36. To lock thestriker 30 when the handle 18 is in the third position 38, the userpushes on the pad 52 of the handle 18 until the handle 18 reaches thefirst position 34.

The spring 20 associated with the handle 18 is configured to assist inmoving the handle 18 from the second position 36 to the third position38. The spring 20 is attached to the pin 22. As the handle 18 travelsfrom the first position 34 toward the second position 36, the spring 20is compressed and thus the mechanical energy stored by the spring 20increases. The striker 30 is engaged with the latch 16 and unlocked fromthe lock 40 when the mechanical energy stored by the spring 20 isgenerally at a maximum. This stored mechanical energy can then assist inmoving the handle 18 from the second position 36 toward the thirdposition 38 as the spring 20 relaxes. As such, the mechanical energystored by the spring 20 is greater when the handle 18 is in the firstposition 34 than when the handle is in the third position 38.

FIG. 3A shows a cross section of the latch 16 when the handle 18 is inthe third position 38 (FIG. 2C). The latch 16 includes a latch housing17, the lock 40, a lock striker 41, a latch spring 43, and a jaw portion45.

The lock 40 is moveable with respect to the latch housing 17 and lockstriker 41. The lock 40 includes an engaging element, such as heartfeature 47, and a recessed area 49. As the handle 18 is moved from thethird position 38 (FIG. 2C) to the first position 34 (FIG. 2A), thestriker 30 engages the jaw portion 45 which is connected to the lock 40via a living hinge. The jaw portion closes around the striker 30 as thestriker is pushed into the latch 16. The lock 40 moves toward the lockstriker 41, causing the lock striker 41 to travel along the path withinthe recessed area 49 indicated by arrows, as the striker 30 is pushedinto the latch 16. The lock 40 compresses the latch spring 43 as thelock 40 moves toward the lock striker 41.

FIG. 3B shows a cross section of the latch 16 when the handle 18 is inthe first position 34 (FIG. 2A). The lock striker 41 is locked in placeby the heart feature 47 and the latch spring 43.

As the handle 18 is pushed from the first position 34 (FIG. 2A) towardthe second position 36 (2B), the lock striker 41 travels along the pathwithin the recessed area 49 indicated by arrows.

FIG. 3C shows a cross section of the latch 16 when the handle is in thesecond position 36 (FIG. 2B). The latch spring 43 will cause the lock 40to move relative to the lock striker 41 such that the lock striker 41will travel along the path within the recessed area 49 indicated byarrows. As the lock 40 is pushed away from the lock striker 41 by thelatch spring 43, the jaw portion 45 opens with respect to the striker 30allowing the striker 30 to be disengaged from the latch 16.

FIG. 3D shows a perspective view of the lock 40, the lock striker 41,the jaw portion 45, the heart feature 47, and the recessed area 49.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of an article holding assembly, such asconsole assembly 54, according to the invention. The console assembly 54may be used with a vehicle 56, and is attachable to a mounting member 58mounted in the vehicle 56. The console assembly 54 includes a housing60, such as a console body, a first latching member 62, a secondlatching member 64, a handle 66, and a spring 68 associated with thehandle 66.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C show a cross section of the console assembly 54when the handle 66 is in several positions. The second latching member64 is moveable with respect to the housing 60 between a first position70 (FIG. 5C) and a second position 72 (FIG. 5A). When the secondlatching member 64 is in the first position 70, the second latchingmember 64 is engaged with the mounting member 58 thereby attaching thehousing 60 to the mounting member 58. When the second latching member 64is in the second position 72, the second latching member 64 isdisengaged from the mounting member 58. Movement of the second latchingmember 64 from the first position 70 to the second position 72 and visaversa with respect to the handle 66 will be explained below in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, and 5C, the handle 66 is pivotablyattached to a pivot member 74 having an axis 76 at pivot 78. The pivotmember 74 spans a recessed area 79 of the housing 60 configured toaccommodate the handle 66. The pivot 78 of the handle 66 is snapped ontothe pivot member 74 and rotates about the axis 76 with respect to thehousing 60.

The handle 66 includes a striking member 80 and a slotted member 82. Thestriking member 80 is configured to engage the first latching member 62when the handle is in certain positions as will be explained below indetail. The slotted member 82 is engaged with a projection, such aspronged portion 84, of the second latching member 64. The slotted member82 is configured to assist in moving the second latching member 64between the first position 70 and the second position 72 as will beexplained below in detail.

The handle 66 is moveable between a locked position 86 (FIG. 5A) and anunlocked position 88 (FIG. 5C). When the handle 66 is in the lockedposition 86, the striking member 80 is engaged with the first latchingmember 62 and locked by a locking member 90 within the first latchingmember 62. When the handle 66 is in the unlocked position 88, thestriking member 80 is disengaged from the first latching member 62.

Operation of the locking member 90 and the striking member 80 as thehandle 66 moves between the locked position 86 and the unlocked position88 is explained above with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D. Forthe purpose of this explanation, locking member 90 corresponds to lock40, striking member 80 corresponds to striker 30, and handle 66corresponds to handle 18.

When the handle 66 is in the locked position 86, the second latchingmember 64 is in the second position 72. A user can reposition theconsole assembly 54 along the mounting member 58 when the handle is inthe locked position 86 because the second latching member 64 isdisengaged from the mounting member 58. When the handle 66 is in theunlocked position 88, the second latching member 64 is in the firstposition 70. A user cannot reposition the console assembly 54 along themounting member 58 when the handle is in the unlocked position 88because the second latching member 64 is engaged with the mountingmember 58.

A distance D1 between an end of the handle 92 and a portion 94 of thesecond latching member 64 that is engageable with the mounting member58, when the second latching member 64 is in the second position 72(FIG. 5A), is less than a distance D2 between the end of the handle 92and the portion of the second latching member 94 when the secondlatching member 64 is in the first position 70 (FIG. 5C).

The second latching member 64 is generally pivotable about a pin 96having an axis 98. The axis 98 is spaced away from the axis 76. The axis98 and axis 76 are generally parallel.

When the user pushes the handle from the unlocked position 88 toward thelocked position 86, the slotted member 82 pushes the pronged portion 84of the second latching member 64 in a clockwise direction, from theperspective shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C. This causes the portion 94 ofthe second latching member that is engageable with the mounting member58 to also pivot in a clockwise direction, again from the perspectiveshown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, an 5C, about the axis 98. The pivoting of thesecond latching member 64 in a clockwise direction, again from theperspective shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, an 5C, disengages the second latchingmember 64 from the mounting member 58. Likewise, once the user hasunlocked the handle 66 from the lock 90 (FIG. 5B and FIG. 3C) and movesthe handle 66 toward the unlocked position 88, the slotted member 82pushes the pronged portion 84 of the second latching member 64 in acounterclockwise direction, from the perspective shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B,an 5C. This causes the portion 94 of the second latching member 64 thatis engageable with the mounting member 58 to also pivot in acounterclockwise direction, again from the perspective shown in FIGS.5A, 5B, an 5C, about the axis 98. The pivoting of the second latchingmember 64 in a counterclockwise direction, again from the perspectiveshown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, an 5C, engages the second latching member 64 withthe mounting member 58.

The spring 68 associated with the handle 66 is configured to assist inmoving the handle 66 from the locked position 86 to the unlockedposition 88. The spring 68 is attached to the pivot member 74. As thehandle 66 travels from the unlocked position 88 toward the lockedposition 86, the spring 68 is compressed and thus the mechanical energystored by the spring 68 increases. This stored mechanical energy canthen assist in moving the handle 66 from the locked position 86 to theunlocked position 88 as the spring 68 relaxes. As such, the mechanicalenergy stored by the spring 68 is greater when the handle 66 is in thelocked position 86 than when the handle is in the unlocked position 88.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe allpossible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in thespecification are words of description rather than limitation, and it isunderstood that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

1. An article holding assembly for a vehicle that is attachable to amounting member comprising: a housing; a first latching member includinga locking member; a second latching member that is moveable with respectto the housing between first and second positions, wherein the secondlatching member is engageable with the mounting member when the secondlatching member is in the first position to thereby attach the housingto the mounting member, and the second latching member is disengageablefrom the mounting member when the second latching member is moved towardthe second position; and a handle pivotably attached to the housing andincluding a striking member and a slotted member, the slotted member isengaged with the second latching member and configured to assist inmoving the second latching member between the first and secondpositions, the handle is moveable between a locked position, in whichthe second latching member is in the second position and the strikingmember is engaged with the first latching member and locked by thelocking member, and an unlocked position, in which the second latchingmember is in the first position and the striking member is disengagedfrom the first latching member, wherein a distance between an end of thehandle and a portion of the second latching member that is engageablewith the mounting member, when the second latching member is in thesecond position, is less than the distance between the end of the handleand the portion of the second latching member when the second latchingmember is in the first position.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein thehousing has a pivot member, and the handle is snapped onto the pivotmember.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second latching member isgenerally pivotable about a first axis, and the handle is generallypivotable about a second axis that is spaced away from the first axis.4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first and second axes aregenerally parallel.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising aspring associated with the handle and configured to assist in moving thehandle.
 6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein mechanical energy stored bythe spring is greater when the handle is in the locked position thanwhen the handle is in the unlocked position.